261. Getting Old

Bonus goal

I will upload one bonus chapter if 75 power stones are reached by tomorrow, now it's at 30.

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Off the shore of Amazon Lily, there loomed a colossal figure surpassing even the island's size. Surprisingly, this enormous entity turned out to be a mere three-masted sailboat!

At the ship's front, there's a remarkably detailed dragon, every strand of hair and muscle intricately sculpted.

From afar, a serene and confident energy emanated from the scene.

Above the dragon's head, Atlas, clad in a pristine white suit, sat cross-legged, replaying Sengoku's strategies from the recent meeting in his thoughts.

—One week earlier—

Sengoku gazed at Atlas, who was conversing with a hint of amazement, a touch of suspicion crossing his face.

"Are you genuinely confident that Issho you mentioned packs as much might as an Admiral does?"

Even though the Press-Press Fruit falls under the same category as the Float-Float Fruit, it's a Paramecia-type ability with an exceptionally potent foundation.

Merely acquiring a highly potent fruit doesn't automatically elevate one to the level of an Admiral in terms of combat prowess.

You see, Admiral is the pinnacle title for the Marine's fighting capability, and it stands as the mightiest force within the World Government.

If Atlas casually strolled around, he'd likely encounter individuals of considerable strength. Does that imply the Admirals aren't that formidable?

"Old man Sengoku, don't you trust my vision..."

Atlas expressed mock dissatisfaction, saying, "Even though I didn't witness Mr. Issho exerting his full strength, the life force he emitted was so intense it seemed to pierce the sky, akin to the sun shining amidst the crowd. How could I misjudge what I observed?"

"...Boom!! Boom!!"

Tapping the table lightly, Sengoku pondered for a moment, then raised his head and instructed Kong, "Alright, Brother Kong, respond to the Five Elders like this."

"Borsalino can be dispatched to the New World. Those Marine Bases do need a certain level of defense, but..."

Sengoku inclined his head slightly, eyeing the laid-back Aokiji.

"Kuzan won't be allowed to be summoned to Mariejois. This is the Marine's final compromise, and..."

"The Marine requires the World Government to issue a mandatory recruitment order for the current Shichibukai!!"

"Hahahahaha! Atlas, your luck is unbelievable. Just taking a stroll, and you come across someone so formidable!! Bang, bang, bang -!!"

Garp, standing nearby, gulped down the donut in his hand and then reached for the senbei in front of Sengoku.

"Snapped--!!"

"Hahaha! Don't be so stingy, Sengoku!!"

A sharp slap echoed, and Garp casually retracted his hand, scratching his head without a hint of embarrassment.

"...Brother Kong, you're well aware that the Marine can only emerge victorious in this war, not face defeat. Hence, having the top combat power is crucial to avoid any unforeseen complications!!"

Disregarding Garp's playful behavior, Sengoku addressed Kong with a solemn expression.

"This... alright-!"

"I'll certainly advocate for it with the Five Elders, but this war needs to be executed flawlessly. It's your first war as the Fleet Admiral, after all."

"The entire world will be watching Marineford. A flawless victory will shake the pirates and uplift the spirits of the civilians at sea!"

Kong cautioned Sengoku earnestly.

He was genuinely content with Sengoku, his successor, who possessed all the qualities befitting a Marine Fleet Admiral.

Wisdom, composure, and a sense of justice that encompasses the world...

Kong firmly believes that with time, Marine will thrive under the leadership of this man!

"Yes, yes, I will, Brother Kong!!"

Sengoku affirmed with a nod.

Kong served as both a brother and a father figure to him. Since the day he joined the Marines, he apprenticed under Kong and received profound care from him.

It can be said that he was molded by Kong.

Much like the bond between Kuzan and Garp!!

"Alright, I, being the troublesome old man, won't disturb you youngsters any longer."

Having said that, Kong flipped his cloak behind him, leaving a towering silhouette as he walked away.

"Okay, let's discuss the troop deployment around Marineford. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

After witnessing Kong's departure, Sengoku gathered his thoughts and redirected the conversation towards Marineford.

"The residence near Marineford needs to be evacuated in advance!!"

Zephyr, typically quiet, spoke with a raspy voice. Although he seldom attended high-level Marine meetings, it didn't mean he had completely withdrawn from the core power structure.

As the current Three Admirals and the imminent fourth Admiral Hakuryu, along with more than half of the middle-ranking generals at headquarters and the base colonels stationed worldwide, all hail from Zephyr's influence. It's not an exaggeration to say that if Zephyr makes a move, a significant portion of the Marine force will follow him at any cost.

Hence, Sengoku had every reason to heed his words.

"This is indeed a concern. Whitebeard's ability poses a significant threat. If war erupts, no one at the family residence will be safe."

Sengoku agreed with a nod. "Ensuring their safe evacuation is paramount, so the marines engaged in battle can focus without worries."

"When the time comes, I'll personally assign a Vice Admiral to escort then."

With most of Marine's generals and officers' families situated there, it's impractical to have them fight on the front lines while anxiously concerning themselves with their families' safety.

"No, I'll handle it personally."

Zephyr shook his head with a slow but resolute motion, displaying no hint of fear in his eyes.

Sengoku gazed at his old comrade, feeling a lump in his throat.

"Regardless, I'm getting on in years. Even though Atlas helped me overcome some old issues, but..."

"I'm getting old, after all!!"

Zephyr gestured to his heart, wearing a bitter expression on his face.

"...Alright, then their safety will be in your hands."

Observing Zephyr's unwavering determination, Sengoku showed no signs of hesitation.

In the gentle spring breeze, even the mightiest figure on the sea, Zephyr, couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy after losing his wife and son. After all, his heart was heavy.

"Okay, moving on to the Marine deployment plan presented by Tsuru and his team. Brannew, please distribute the document."

...

"Brother Atlas, it appears that Amazon Lily hasn't responded yet; the call hasn't gone through!"

At some point, Smoker silently approached the ship's bow, gently breaking into Atlas's contemplation.

"Um?"

Atlas snapped back to reality, furrowing his brow, overwhelmed by what he saw and heard.

A formidable life force was swiftly moving on the island, and the target—

It's precisely in the direction of the Ryu-Sen!!

"Get ready."

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